Google to take on Apple in e-book sales this summer

Google plans to begin selling e-books in late June or July, getting into the digital business Apple recently entered with the iPad and its own iBookstore.

Google held an event in New York on Tuesday at which Chris Palma, manager for strategic-partner development, announced the search giant's plans, according to The Wall Street Journal. The event was held in Manhattan at the offices of publisher Random House, and was entitled "The Book on Google: Is the Future of Publishing in the Cloud?"

The report said Google will offer content on a "broad array of devices," likely including those running its Android mobile operating system, and books will be available from a number of websites. The service will allow smaller, independent book stores to have a "sophisticated electronic-book sales service with a vast selection of titles."

"Google says users will be able to buy digital copies of books they discover through its book-search service. It will also allow book retailerseven independent shopsto sell Google Editions on their own sites, taking the bulk of the revenue," the report said. "Google is still deciding whether it will follow the model where publishers set the retail price or where Google sets retail prices."

Apple recently entered the e-book market with the release of the iPad on April 3, with the iBooks application and its included iBookstore offering a wide range of titles from a number of major publishers. While it debuted on the iPad, iBooks will be coming to the iPhone and iPod touch this summer.

On Monday, Apple announced that its own venture into the e-books market got off to a strong start, with more than 1.5 million titles downloaded in the first 28 days. The iBookstore is a new online storefront for Apple, in addition to its App Store for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, and the iTunes Music Store.

Last month, it was revealed that Google plans to release a tablet computer to take on Apple's iPad. The device would run the Android mobile operating system, which is primarily found on smartphones. Google's alleged e-reader would function like a computer, though the company hasn't officially confirmed the device.

Last month, it was revealed that Google plans to release a tablet computer to take on Apple's iPad. The device would run the Android mobile operating system, which is primarily found on smartphones. Google's alleged e-reader would function like a computer, though the company hasn't officially confirmed the device.

LOL @Google, man this company really is trying to get their grubby hands into everything Apple is doing. I'm waiting on them to start manufacturing workstations and laptops too.

Don't get me wrong Apple is as much to blame in the arena as the next guy but man can't these companies just sometimes think that maybe they'll just stay out of something? It's crazy. Microsoft used to be (and still is) notorious for this type of thing and honestly they should just stick with their bread and butter..... software. But Microsoft is far from alone in sticking their nose in EVERY possible thing whether or not it's benefical or not.

Two thoughts:
1. Nice! I've been waiting for an option to keep reading a copywrited book right on Google books site for a while. As soon as I find a book I need for class on GBooks I try to see if it has enough material for me to go off of before buying it. If I can get the whole book right then and there it would make my life a lot easier.

2. Google's interface is not the best. It's good, but iBooks and Kindle are so much better. I would like to see a desktop app that can go full screen and a better implementation of in book search.

Don't get me wrong Apple is as much to blame in the arena as the next guy but man can't these companies just sometimes think that maybe they'll just stay out of something? It's crazy. Microsoft used to be (and still is) notorious for this type of thing and honestly they should just stick with their bread and butter..... software. But Microsoft is far from alone in sticking their nose in EVERY possible thing whether or not it's benefical or not.

That's very nicely put. A lot of companies convince themselves that they "have something to add", but normally what they add is a piss-poor rip-off device.

2. Google's interface is not the best. It's good, but iBooks and Kindle are so much better. I would like to see a desktop app that can go full screen and a better implementation of in book search.

Will definitely watch for price and DRM.

The NYT did a piece about the woman charged with interface control at Google a while back. I think their interfaces are pretty horrible, but once you learn them the functionality is sometimes worthwhile.

Apple doesn't manufacure laptops or workstations, they contract that work out

Hey Einstein, guess what .... Apple does the design work and it's the design that matters most. Architects design houses ... but they don't hammer in the nails ... they contract that work out to carpenters. Your point is??? \

Apple, bigger than Google, √ ..... bigger than Microsoft, √ The universe is unfolding as it should. Thanks, Apple.

LOL @Google, man this company really is trying to get their grubby hands into everything Apple is doing. I'm waiting on them to start manufacturing workstations and laptops too.

Funny some could say the same about Apple copying Amazon when it comes to ebooks.

The poster you are referring to was saying about the Apple business in its widest term from software to computer to mobile devices, which Google is also now pursuing (rackmount server, remember that?, Chrome OS/browser, Android OS, Nexus phone) and you commented back on the basis of one (1) feature/technology, ebook. Amazon does not sell Kindle for the sake of the selling hardware, they sell them so they could sell the contents that are already on sale on Amazon... Now, that's not the same isn't it, eh!